The Super Bowl only happens once a year, but sports movies are always in season. Here are some of the best football, baseball, basketball and boxing movies you can stream right now.
“42”
Chadwick Boseman stars as the legendary Jackie Robinson, the first Black baseball player to break the color barrier in professional sports, in this biopic. Harrison Ford costars as Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Stream on HBO Max
“Bull Durham”
Kevin Costner is in peak form as quotable Crash Davis in this sports rom-com that has him competing with teammate Nuke LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) for the affections of groupie Annie (Susan Sarandon).
Stream on HBO Max, Paramount+
“Field of Dreams”
An ordinary cornfield in Iowa becomes a magical place where long-dead baseball stars like Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) play ball in this classic drama that’s also about dads and sons.
Rent at Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube
“Heaven Can Wait”
In this very funny comedy co-directed by Buck Henry, Warren Beatty plays a star Los Angeles Rams quarterback who is mistakenly whisked to heaven after what looks like a fatal accident. To make things right, he’s allowed the use of a middle-aged millionaire while they find another athlete’s body for him to take over. In the meantime, in his non-athletic loaner body, he buys the Rams and announces he’ll be the new QB.
Stream on Amazon Prime, Showtime
“Hoop Dreams”
This acclaimed 1994 documentary about two NBA hopefuls was nominated for a Directors Guild Award, but overlooked at Oscar nomination time. That snub helped prompt the Academy to change its rules so that movies like this had a fair chance, just like its two subjects.
“Hoosiers”
Dennis Hopper earned his only Oscar nomination for his role as an alcoholic assistant basketball coach trying to stay sober in this drama set in 1950s Indiana where every player gets a chance to shine.
Stream on HBO Max
“Jerry Maguire”
Cuba Gooding Jr. rightly won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as Arizona Cardinal player Rod Tidwell, who demands that sports agent Maguire (Tom Cruise), “show [him] the money.”
Stream on Netflix, Philo and AMC+ on Amazon Prime
“A League of Their Own”
With most of the male athletes off fighting WWII, women get a chance to play ball in Penny Marshall’s delightful pic. One of our favorite scenes has Tom Hanks’ coach and Geena Davis’ pitcher sending competing signals to a Rockford Peach hitter.
Stream on Freevee, Hulu
“Remember the Titans”
Denzel Washington coaches a Virginian high school’s first integrated football team in this winning, eminently rewatchable sports drama.
Stream on Disney+
“Rocky”
The first, Oscar Best Picture winner in this still-growing franchise introduced the world to iconic boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), as well as sports anthem “Gonna Fly Now.” That, in turn, paved the way for “Eye of the Tiger” and “Livin’ in America” and Rocky’s epic bouts with Ivan Drago and Clubber Lang.
Stream on Netflix, Paramount+
“Creed”
You can’t your eyes off Michael B. Jordan in this “Rocky” spinoff, where he plays Apollo Creed’s son, Adonis Johnson, who’s looking to make a name for himself in the ring. Ryan Coogler directed and Sylvester Stallone received his second Oscar nomination for reprising his role of Rocky Balboa. Followed by “Creed II” and “Creed III,” which will be out on March 3.
Stream on TNT, TBS and TruTV
“The Longest Yard”
Burt Reynolds makes a convincing star quarterback in this ’70s classic that’s much better than the 2005 remake. After he’s sent to prison, the cruel warden has him and his fellow felons playing opposite the brutal prison guards.
Stream on Starz
“Moneyball”
Brad Pitt + Jonah Hill + baseball + statistics + Aaron Sorkin & Steve Zallian’s script = 6 Oscar nominations.
Stream on Showtime
“Rudy”
Sean Astin stars in this real-life drama about Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who dreamed of playing on Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish squad and finally got his big chance. The heartwarming final scene, where Rudy is carried off the field by his jubilant teammates is pure joy.
Stream on Tubi
“Undefeated”
This terrific, Oscar-winning documentary focuses on underprivileged students from Memphis and the volunteer coach who helps them on and off the field. it currently holds a 96% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Stream on Netflix
“The Way Back”
Ben Affleck got some of the best reviews of his career as a former basketball star and coach who struggles with sobriety as he returns to his alma mater to shepherd a new team of teenagers. The movie has an 84% positive rating from both critics and audiences at Rotten Tomatoes.
Stream on HBO Max
“Hustle”
Adam Sandler earned a SAG nomination for his role as a down-on-his-luck baseball scout who hopes to get back in the big time with a phenomenal Spanish player.
Stream on Netflix